Gregg Wylde cut his teeth in Rangers youth sides before going on to enjoy a successful four-year spell in the Ibrox first team.
And the new East Kilbride winger reckons Old Firm 'B' teams in the Lowland League next season will be beneficial for all involved.
Rangers and Celtic were given the green light to enter teams into the fifth tier for one season only when the proposal was rubber stamped last week.
Wylde, who actually joined Rangers from Celtic as a 14-year-old, is all for seeing the kids coming through at Ibrox and Celtic Park get the opportunities he was able to enjoy through the old reserve league and youth leagues as a youngster.
Now the Kilby star is looking forward to facing the 'B' teams when the new season kicks off next month.
He said: "When I was at Rangers we had a league and a league cup to play in.
"I was under Billy Kirkwood, Tommy Wilson and Durranty was involved as well.
"We actually had a great team of guys coming through. Flecky [John Fleck] and Kal Naismith were in the team.
"It was a league game every Saturday and we played for three points. It was the reserve league along with the under-18s league that I played in.
"That was the standard we were at and it was good for us.
"We actually missed out on the double that year because Hibs pipped us to both of them.
"But for our development it was great, playing in a 12-team league at the time with all SPFL teams in it.
"I think for Colts coming into the Lowland League it will be beneficial for them.
"They are playing against men and if they are going to make it in the first team they will need to step up to the plate.
"I think it's also a great opportunity for ourselves to play against these teams."
Wylde, who won a league and cup double under Ally McCoist in the 2010/11 at Rangers, faced Old Firm Colt sides last year during his spell at Clyde and insists Lowland League sides will face a real challenge, even if they will only be playing for points as they can't win the title or be promoted.
The 30-year-old added: "It will give us a good test, not just for us but for the rest of the teams in the league.
"It will be great to play against these teams.
"I think everybody would love to play against the best teams in Scotland and Rangers and Celtic have got some of the best kids in Scotland with the youth academies they have and the players they've got.
"You never know, if the first team don't have a game one week they might bring some of the bigger players in for game time.
"It's something I'm looking forward to.
"When I was at Clyde, we played against Celtic and Rangers teams in bounce games and the standard was really good.
"They won't be any mugs.
"They will be good quality players."
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